THEATER
SEPTEMBER
15 South Pacific Rodgers and Hammerstein moon over some enchanted evening during WWII. Village Theatre, 425-257-8600.
17 Forbidden Hollywood Tinseltown gets a wicked musical spoofing from the creators of New York’s fiendish Forbidden Broadway. Kirkland Performance Center, 425-893-9900.
17 The Magic City A world-premiere adaptation of the book by E. Nesbit finds two children escaping into a fantastical land built out of household objects. Seattle Children’s Theatre, 206-441-3322.
18 Who’s Funnier: The Right or the Left? Guests including Janeane Garofalo and Sherman Alexie ponder the titular question for Foolproof. Paramount Theatre, 206-628-0888.
22 A . . . My Name Is Alice Women’s Issues meet the Musical in Joan Micklin Silver and Julianne Boyd’s seminal satirical revue. Tacoma Actors Guild, 253-272-2145.
22 Frankenocchio A decapitated marionette boy searches for his head in this revamp of Monkey Wrench Theatre’s wonderfully wild adult puppet spectacular. Empty Space Theatre, 206-547-7500.
24 Good Boys Jane Martin’s world-premiere drama concerns two fathers and a dark exploration of American life. ACT Theatre, 206-292-7676.
25 The Guys L.A.-based the Actors’ Gang performs the heartbreaking drama of a journalist who helps a fire captain eulogize the men he lost on 9/11. Kirkland Performance Center, 425-828-0422.
28 Oliver! That greedy little orphan boy asks for more—and can’t stop singing about it. Paramount Theatre, 206-292-ARTS.
OCTOBER
2 Anna in the Tropics Sharon Ott directs Nilo Cruz’s Pulitzer Prize–winning play in which some cigar factory workers in 1920s Florida have their lives changed by an encounter with a man who reads them Anna Karenina. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 206-443-2222.
6 Romance/Romance Two one-act musicals—one in 1900 Vienna, the other in a present-day Hamptons haven—look at love. ArtsWest Playhouse, 206-938-0339.
8 Bunnicula The rabbit has fangs! Kids bite into the musical mystery, based on the book. Seattle Children’s Theatre, 206-441-3322.
8 Cabaret Sally Bowles gets into trouble in 1930s Berlin, old chum. The Playhouse, 206-842-8569.
8 Strega Nona A magic pasta pot wreaks havoc in an Italian village in this children’s tale from Paul Mesner Puppets. Northwest Puppet Center, 206-523-2579.
8 Waxwings Book-It adapts Jonathan Raban’s acclaimed Seattle dot-com contemplation. Seattle Center House Theatre, 206-216-0877.
14 As You Like It Stephanie Shine directs the Bard’s tale of love in the Forest of Arden for Seattle Shakespeare Company. Seattle Center House Theatre, 206-733-8222.
15 This Land Puppets and actors join forces in a play derived from the work of folk hero Woody Guthrie. Richard Hugo House, 800-838-3006.
19 Smokey Joe’s Cafe The songs of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller form the basis of a musical revue that features the fabulous Sarah Rudinoff in its ensemble. The 5th Avenue, 206-292-ARTS.
20 Walk With Me . . . The Lone Twin duo uses just two mikes, a monitor, and a clipboard in this performance retrospective of its conceptual artworks. On the Boards, 206-217-9888.
22 Fiction A look at married life is conjoined with a sophisticated whodunit in Steven Dietz’s world- premiere new play. ACT Theatre, 206-292-7676.
29 Arsenic and Old Lace Two old broads keep exterminating their lodgers in this comedy chestnut. SecondStory Repertory, 425-881-6777.
NOVEMBER
5 In or Out TheatreRun, a young, international physical-performance troupe, considers the theme of beginnings and endings in this newly commissioned piece. Consolidated Works, 206-625-0500.
5 Q’we-ti: Tales of the Makah Tribe The Carter Family Marionettes perform a selection of fanciful American Indian legends. Northwest Puppet Center, 206-523-2579.
10 The Secret Garden The Tony-winning musical version of the tale comes to Issaquah. Village Theatre, 425-257-8600.
19 The Secret Garden Little Mary Lennox’s snooping pays off big time in a new adaptation of the Frances Hodgson Burnett classic. Seattle Children’s Theatre, 206-441-3322.
19 Paula Poundstone The stand-up comedian, always quick on her feet, returns for another round of her singularly frank humor. ACT Theatre, 206-325-3554.
20 Bad Dates A restaurant manager re-enters the dating scene and looks for love in a new comedy by Theresa Rebeck (Omnium Gatherum). Seattle Repertory Theatre, 206-443-2222.
26 The Pied Piper of Hamelin The titular musician rids a town of its rats and gets peeved when he doesn’t get paid. SecondStory Repertory, 425-881-6777.
DECEMBER
11 Noises Off Michael Frayn’s gut-busting farce-within-a-farce concerns a dysfunctional company of actors attempting to survive the performance of a disastrous stage comedy. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 206-443-2222.
MOVIES
SEPTEMBER
17–23 Ross McElwee Retrospective The NWFF salutes the director of personal documentaries like Sherman’s March and the new Bright Leaves. 2 p.m. Northwest Film Forum, 206-267-5380.
17 Silver City John Sayles goes after Dubya in this elaborate parable of the president’s early, unlikely rise in politics. It’s reportedly even meaner and more scathing than Fahrenheit 9/11.
17 Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow The special-effects movie of the season, it was shot entirely with actors (including Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, and Angelina Jolie) performing in front of a blue screen; the retro-style space invaders were later added via computer.
17 Wimbledon For those who still can’t get enough of Kirsten Dunst after Spider-Man 2 and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, she’s back in a tennis-themed romantic comedy opposite unlikely romantic lead Paul Bettany.
24 Shaun of the Dead From England, a boy falls in love with a zombie in this dark comedy. Can they make it work? Where will they go for dinner dates?
24 A Dirty Shame John Waters is back with a cunnilingus comedy starring Johnny Knoxville, Tracey Ullman, Chris Isaak, Selma Blair, and others. Interestingly, in these tame moviegoing times, it’s rated NC-17.
OCTOBER
1 Going Upriver From documentary director George Butler (Pumping Iron, The Endurance: Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Expedition), this profile of John Kerry’s war years in Vietnam is frankly admiring—and, in these parts, should be mighty popular.
1 The Motorcycle Diaries This portrait of the revolutionary as a young man stars Gael García Bernal (Y Tu Mamá También) as the young Che Guevara, making his way across South America with a pal and witnessing poverty and injustice firsthand.
1 Shark Tale Will Smith, Martin Scorsese, and others lend their voices to this undersea animated effort, kind of like Finding Nemo without Albert Brooks.
1 The Yes Men Imposters run wild at a WTO conference in this new documentary, pranking and punking everyone they see wearing a suit and name badge.
8 Dig! A favorite from SIFF, this music-world documentary follows the very different fates of two related bands: the Brian Jonestown Massacre and the Dandy Warhols.
15–21 Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival Expect the usual mix of shorts, documentaries, and features at this annual celebration of queer celluloid. Keep posted as the lineup develops at www.seattlequeerfilm.com.
15 Shall We Dance? Leaving aside for the moment the fact that the 1996 Japanese original with Koji Yakusho really doesn’t need improvement, this new American remake stars J.Lo, Richard Gere, and Susan Sarandon.
22 Alfie Another remake—desecration?—of a film that doesn’t need remaking. Jude Law inherits the role that Michael Caine made famous as the swinging Cockney heel in the 1966 original, considered quite sexually frank for its day.
22 Tarnation This zero-budget autobiographical account by Jonathan Caoutte of his very troubled family and upbringing won raves at Sundance and elsewhere.
29 Ray Jamie Foxx plays Ray Charles in this biopic, completed just prior to the musical legend’s death; word is that he approved of it, and Foxx is definitely a rising star—who, it should be noted, also plays his own piano.
NOVEMBER
5 Alexander Donning sword and sandals so soon after Brad Pitt in Troy, Colin Farrell plays the world-conquering, sexually ambivalent hero in Oliver Stone’s big-budget biopic.
12 Finding Neverland Seemingly incapable of doing wrong these days, Johnny Depp plays Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrie; it’s one of those movies about the writing of a book, which doesn’t guarantee it’ll be boring.
12 Kinsey Liam Neeson stars as the famed sex researcher whose work inexorably began to leech into his home and personal life; also with Laura Linney, John Lithgow, Peter Saarsgard—and Gore Vidal!
19 Bad Education Gael García Bernal stars in the latest from Pedro Almodóvar. Here, he’s a transvestite still troubled by the sexual abuse suffered in his youth by Catholic priests. Sound bright and cheerful.
19 Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason More doughnuts for Ms. Zellweger! Having evidently regained the weight, she’s back with Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, and more romantic complications.
19 The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie Everyone’s favorite animated sponge comes to the big screen, facing still more undersea adventures.
DECEMBER
10 Beyond the Sea Badly in need of a hit, Kevin Spacey directs himself in this biopic about crooner Bobby Darin; always a sterling vocal mimic, expect Spacey to do his own singing.
10 Ocean’s Twelve George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and company are back in Steven Soderbergh’s caper sequel; this should be a nice respite from all the serious Christmas movies to come—which we’ll cover in our holiday film guide.
AUTHOR VISITS
SEPTEMBER
8 Russell Train After chairing the U.S. Council of Environmental Quality under Nixon and heading up the World Wildlife Federation for 25 years, Train collects his experience in the field of eco- consciousness in the memoir Politics, Pollution, and Pandas. 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 206-652-4255.
10–11 Cornel West A sequel of sorts to the controversial Race Matters, his new book on U.S. foreign policy, Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism, should earn the Princeton prof (and sometime actor) another hunk of zeitgeist. Sept. 10: 7 p.m. First A.M.E. Church, 206-324-3664. Sept. 11: 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 206-652-4255.
17 Krist Novoselic and Mark Andersen Ex-Nirvana rocker and aspiring politician Novoselic joins kindred spirit Andersen to create a buzz of progressive synergy around their new titles, both published by Akashic Books: Of Grunge & Government: Let’s Fix This Broken Democracy! and All the Power: Revolution Without Illusion, respectively. 7:30 p.m. UW Kane Hall, Room 130, 206-634-3400.
19 Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson In an unlikely collaborative effort, Miami-based humorist Barry and Fulbright-winning mystery writer Pearson have co-written Peter and the Starcatchers, a sequel to J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. 2 p.m. Third Place Books, 206-366-3333.
20 Philip Gold In Take Back the Right, the local conservative pundit contends that neocons and religious zealots are undermining conservatism’s better qualities; he’s joined onstage tonight by P-I political columnist Joel Connelly. 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 206-652-4255.
21 Neal Stephenson The author of Snow Crash and Cryptonomicon has an expansive and loyal cult following, especially in sci-fi meccas like Seattle; his newest foray into the unknown is System of the World, the third chapter in his Baroque Cycle series. 7:30 p.m. UW Kane Hall, Room 130, 206-634-3400.
21 Lewis Lapham In his recently published On the Stifling of Dissent and the Suppression of Democracy, the editor in chief of Harper’s argues that the War on Terror is keeping us in a state of oligarchy. 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-325-3554.
25 Clive Barker Sometimes called the thinking man’s Stephen King, the horror-fantasy novelist extends his Abarat series with Days of Magic, Nights of War, in which heroine Candy Quackenbush does battle with evil, evil Christopher Carrion. 6 p.m. Third Place Books, 206-366-3333.
28 Bruce Wagner Hollywood still bites in Still Holding, the final installment in the California satirist’s Cell Phone Trilogy. 7:30 p.m. Third Place Books, 206-366-3333.
OCTOBER
5 T.C. BoylE Last year’s well-reviewed ’70s commune saga Drop City was a return to form for the man who fictionalized health guru John H. Kellogg in The Road to Wellville; his newest work, The Inner Circle, focuses on sex researcher Alfred Kinsey. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall, 206-621-2230.
8 Susan Orlean Having fully recovered from being played by Meryl Streep in Adaptation, the New Yorker contributor and Orchid Thief author gives travel writing a try in My Kind of Place. 6:30 p.m. Third Place Books, 206-366-3333.
14 Allegra Goodman One of the most promising young Jewish writers working today, the Hawaii-raised, Harvard-educated Goodman has investigated the clash between orthodoxy and feminism (in the novel Kaaterskill Falls) and themes of Jewish family life (in the short-story collection The Family Markowitz). 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall (Nordstrom Recital Hall), 206-621-2230.
15 Neal Pollack The gonzo writer and McSweeney’s contributor has a graphic novel about 19th-century New York in the works; for now, fans must content themselves with yet another autographed copy of Never Mind the Pollacks, his “rock and roll novel.” 7 p.m. University Book Store, 206-633-6443.
17 Augusten Burroughs Compare him to Sedaris if you must, but wry memoirist Burroughs (Dry and Running With Scissors) has accumulated heaps of good press on his own (considerable) merits. Magical Thinking is his new collection of essays. 5 p.m. Third Place Books, 206-366-3333.
19 Stephen Flynn A retired Coast Guard officer, the author of America the Vulnerable has plenty to report on homeland security, or the lack thereof, and his insights should prove particularly resonant just two weeks before Election Day. 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 206-652-4255.
19 Deepak Chopra The New Age guru (and author of Golf for Enlightenment) tries to impart yet another parcel of mystical wisdom in Book of Secrets. 7 p.m. Third Place Books, 206-366-3333.
21 Binnie Kirschenbaum Her novel An Almost Perfect Moment sounds like a wild mix of Saved! and Saturday Night Fever, as it centers on a Jewish teenager who bears a startling resemblance to the Virgin Mary and experiences immaculate conception “on the cusp of the great age of disco.” 7:30 p.m. Jewel Box Theater (Rendezvous), 206-441-5823.
22–23 Legacy: A Celebration of James Welch Sherman Alexie and Ivan Doig are among the participants in Hugo House’s Annual Inquiry, which honors Native American poet Welch with readings, workshops, and film screenings. (His seminal poetry collection, Riding the Earthboy 40, is being reissued by Viking Penguin this fall.) Richard Hugo House, 206-322-7030.
26 Harold Kushner When Bad Things Happen to Good People tackled one of the thorniest questions ever to cross a theologian’s desk; in The Lord Is My Shepherd, the best-selling rabbi investigates the 23rd Psalm and its influence on everything from personal spirituality to pop culture. 7 p.m. University Temple United Methodist Church, 206-632-5163.
27 James Ellroy The contemporary king of hard-boiled detective fiction (and author of L.A. Confidential) returns with an omnibus of short stories, creative nonfiction, and three novellas—14 works in all— titled Destination Morgue! Noon. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 206-587-5737.
NOVEMBER
7 Anthony Bourdain Yes, he’s totally full of himself, and yes, he’s been overexposed since Kitchen Confidential hit best-seller pay dirt, but Anthony Bourdain’s Les Halles Cookbook: Strategies, Recipes, and Techniques of Classic Bistro Cooking is his first cookbook, so even nonfans may want to take note. 5 p.m. Third Place Books, 206-366-3333.
11 Jonathan Rosen Survival guilt, spirituality, and a very modern romance between a science writer and a female rabbi—they all figure prominently in his latest novel, Joy Comes in the Morning. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall (Nordstrom Recital Hall), 206-621-2230.
15 Roddy Doyle A prolific interpreter of modern Irish life, the author of The Commitments and The Snapper has written a sequel to his 1999 novel A Star Called Henry, titled Oh, Play That Thing. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall (Nordstrom Recital Hall), 206-621-2230.
17 Richard Dawkins The acclaimed Oxford University biologist and science author (The Selfish Gene) traces the development of several species, including Homo sapiens, in The Ancestor’s Tale. 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 206-652-4255.
DECEMBER
1 Oliver Sacks The neurologist-turned-author transformed case studies into memorable character studies in Awakenings and The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat; his recent memoir Uncle Tungsten, on the other hand, reveals the origins of his interest in science. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall, 206-621-2230.
6 Amos Oz In the memoir A Tale of Love and Darkness, the noted Israeli author explores his parents’ yearning to remain European after fleeing the continent during World War II. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall (Nordstrom Recital Hall), 206-621-2230.
CONCERTS
SEPTEMBER
16 A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS Yep, they’re still around, though whether they have all of their famous hair remains in question. 8 p.m. Fenix Underground, 206-405-4313.
17 STYX + REO SPEEDWAGON Is it “time for them to fly”? Apparently not—these two ’70s Midwestern AOR heroes are still hitting the road and playing the hits. 7 p.m. Puyallup Fairgrounds, 253-841-5045.
19 BEASTIE BOYS They might have sounded out of breath on their middling new album, To the 5 Boroughs, but the Beasties have always been stellar live. 7:30 p.m. KeyArena, 206-628-0888.
19 REBA MCENTIRE When she’s not starring in television sitcoms or performing on Broadway, Reba’s one of country music’s leading lights and steadiest live draws. 7 p.m. Puyallup Fairgrounds, 253- 841-5045.
22 MAROON 5 If you’re going to turn modern-rock radio into your playground, there are worse ways of going about it than being as tuneful as this L.A. unit, who add a little bit of R&B with the typical alt-stylings. 7 p.m. Puyallup Fairgrounds, 253-841-5045.
23 SCISSOR SISTERS Mid-’70s Elton John meets mid-’00s production values? No, it’s not Ben Folds—it’s five New Yorkers who might as well be Ben Folds, except they play up the camp. Now you know. 8 p.m. Showbox, 206-628-3151.
25 ENDFEST This year’s edition of the mod-rock behemoth’s annual shindig features, on the Mainstage, Muse, Violent Femmes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Echo & the Bunnymen, Psychedelic Furs, Franz Ferdinand, X, and Metric; on the Seattle Stage, we get Schoolyard Heroes, Super Deluxe, the Lashes, Idiot Pilot, Leuko, and Harvey Danger. 3 p.m. White River Amphitheater, 206-628-0888.
26 SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES + THE CREATURES The high priestess of goth and postpunk, Siouxsie Sioux has cultivated her following with two bands, both of which she brings to town tonight— a show delayed from earlier this year. 8 p.m. Showbox, 206-628-3151.
28 NORAH JONES Remember her? She sold a million copies of her second record the week it was released. Right, that one. Who knows how her breezy mellowness will play in an arena, though. 8 p.m. KeyArena, 206-628-0888.
29 THE LIBERTINES + RADIO 4 London’s current most headline-making band (rock group liking drugs shocker) meets New York’s most ineffectual mad-at-the-government unit for fun and frolic in what will certainly be an interesting road show. 8 p.m. Neumo’s, 206-709-9442.
29 LUDACRIS + CHINGY + PITBULL + JUVENILE The Dirty South shall rise again, probably starting with this tour. Ludacris is Atlanta’s finest, Chingy is nobody’s finest, Juvenile represents New Orleans, but the one to look out for is Pitbull, whose debut, M.I.A.M.I. (TVT) is one of the most bracing rap records this year. 7:30 p.m. Qwest Field, 206-628-0888.
OCTOBER
5–6 QUEENSRYCHE Seattle’s prog-metal pioneers will perform their 1988 magnum opus, Operation: Mindcrime, in its entirety for the first time in over a decade at these shows. 8 p.m. Moore Theatre, 206-443-1744.
8 STING + ANNIE LENNOX He hasn’t really done anything notable since Rob Schneider called him “Sting-a-ring-a-ding-dong” on Saturday Night Live over a decade ago, but the headliner still packs ’em in. So does the opener, whose lack of prolific output just makes her even more of a diva than ever. 7:30 p.m. White River Amphitheatre, 206-628-0888.
18 BRIGHT EYES The wailing, warbling, wild-eyed wonder of Omaha brings his heartbroken shtick and overwrought vocal stylings back to a city that apparently can’t get enough. 8 p.m. Moore Theatre, 206-443-1744.
19 RJD2 Forget the DJ Shadow comparisons: This Ohio beatmaster’s new Since We Last Spoke (Definitive Jux) is its own kind of cinematic funk-rock, bathed in hippie-era rock that’s scrappy but elegant. 8 p.m. Neumo’s, 206-709-9442.
21 HELMET One of the best hard-rock bands of the ’90s, and some of us would argue they were the greatest. Either way, their new reunion has alternately excited old fans and filled them with “what if they suck?” dread. Live, though, it’s hard to imagine them not delivering. 7 p.m. Graceland, 206-381-3094.
NOVEMBER
4 MEDESKI, MARTIN & WOOD Sure, they’re basically a jam band, but (a) there are only three of them and (b) they concentrate on grooves, which means that when they catch one, which is frequently, their variations mean something. 8 p.m. Showbox, 206-628-3151.
17 GUIDED BY VOICES Indie rock’s longest-running joke band finally calls it quits. Bye. 8 p.m. Neumo’s, 206-709-9442.
27–28 NEKO CASE & HER BOYFRIENDS Preparing to issue a live album and a studio album in rapid succession, the former Tacoma resident is one of alt-twang’s reigning voices, both for her excellent albums and for her stunning pipes themselves. 7 p.m. Neumo’s, 206-709-9442.
DANCE
SEPTEMBER
9–12 Laura Curry The choreographer and commentator has been watching people watching people, and PINKK is the result of all this watching, an “experiential . . . performative installation” about voyeurism in contemporary culture. Times vary. On the Boards. 206-217-9888.
11–12 Jerboa Dance With a list of choreographers longer than its name, Jerboa is a multistyle dance company specializing in modern dance from lyrical to hip hop. Times vary. Chamber Theater, 425-445-0921.
12–Oct. 3 Axolotl Audience members become “performers” as they are led blindfolded through a series of movement, sound, and tactile experiences, all designed by Karl Frost. 8 p.m. Dance Underground, 206-790-1645.
17–19 Velocity Fall Kick Off Three different evenings by a plethora of Seattle choreographers in a benefit to support Velocity’s 2004–05 season. 8 p.m. Velocity MainSpace Theater, 206- 325-8773.
17–25 Big Red Dance Company Choreographer Kristina Dillard made quite a name for herself in the ’90s, then left town to do the grad-school thing. She’s back now, with Bigger and Redder. 8 p.m. Chamber Theater, 206-568-7635.
18 Carmona Flamenco Seattle flamenco specialists Marcos and Rubina Carmona share an evening with dancer Esther Marion and musicians Jane Harty and Correo Aereo. 7:30 p.m. West Seattle High School Auditorium, 206-937-2899.
19 Conversations with PNB Dance historian Doug Fullington moderates a discussion about Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet, with members of the artistic staff. 5 p.m. Elliot Bay Book Company, 206-441-3591.
22 Lyon Opera Ballet A ballet company, yes, but performing some of the riskiest of contemporary choreography, including work by William Forsythe and Jiri Kylian. 7:30 p.m. Paramount Theatre, 206-292-ARTS.
23–Oct. 1 Juerg Koch A new addition to the UW dance faculty, Koch has made a work inside an interactive laser light installation by Iole Asseandrini. Times vary. Jack Straw Productions, 206- 634-0919.
23–Oct. 3 The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet Pacific Northwest Ballet opens their season with Kent Stowell’s version of Shakespeare’s work. Times vary. McCaw Hall, 206-292-ARTS.
24–25 Aiko Kinoshita Kinoshita makes smart work, and asks smart dancers to work for her, and this evening will be a combination of both. 8 p.m. Velocity MainSpace Theater, 206-325-6500.
24–26 Akira Kasai In Pollen Revolution, Kasai starts as a Kabuki performer and ends as a street dancer, filtering that transition through a combination of Butoh and hip-hop. (As well as performing, Kasai will conduct a lecture-demonstration at On the Boards on Sun., Sept. 26, for workshop participants and performance ticket holders. Info: 206-229-6709.) 8 p.m. On the Boards, 206-217-9888.
28 A Portrait of PNB As part of their farewell season, directors Kent Stowell and Francia Russell give a series of talks on the history of their work with Pacific Northwest Ballet, beginning with “The Early Years at Good Shepherd.” 7:30 p.m. Good Shepherd Center, 206-441-9411.
OCTOBER
1–3 Eastside Arts Alive! A festival of works by Eastside arts groups, including Ballet Bellevue, International Ballet Theater, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and the Washington Academy of the Performing Arts. Times vary. Kirkland Performance Center, 425-893-9900.
2 Big Bamboo Ball Northwest Folklife and the Seattle Center put up the ultimate dance floor for a day of nonstop social dancing, including a tango lecture-demonstration at 5. Noon. Exhibition Hall, Seattle Center, 206-684-7300.
7–9 Mary Sheldon Scott/Jarrad Powell PerformanceVessel is a new work by this choreographer/ composer duo, contrasting the discipline of technique with the power of the body. 8 p.m. On the Boards, 206-217-9888.
8–16 Against the Grain/Men in Dance The fifth iteration of this festival showcasing the work of male dancers and choreographers. Times vary. Velocity MainSpace Theater, 425-557-2448.
9 Na Hanu ‘O Ku’uleialoha Forget old-fashioned stereotypes of luaus and hulas at this celebration of Hawaiian culture. 6 p.m. St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church, 425-822-8564.
9 Lelavision New works of “physical music” exploring Ela Lamblin’s musical sculptures. 7:30 p.m. Blue Heron Arts Center, 206-463-5131.
10 UTSAV A trio of dance styles from India, part of a multiart festival. 6:30 p.m. Museum of History and Industry, 425-736-4652.
10 CroatiaFest The Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble is featured in this inaugural event, part of Seattle Center’s Festal series. Noon. Center House, Seattle Center, 206-684-7200.
12–17 Riverdance It started as a time-filler act for an amateur talent show, became an international sensation, and is actually an engaging showcase of percussive dance styles. Times vary. Paramount Theatre, 206-292-ARTS.
14 Staging Graham A brown-bag discussion with Diane Gray, who is staging Martha Graham’s Primitive Mysteries for the UW Chamber Dance Company. Noon. Meany Hall, 206-543-9843.
14–16 Ballet HispanicoNightclub is an exploration of social dancing from 1920s Argentine brothels to 1950s Spanish Harlem social clubs. 8 p.m. Meany Theater, 206-543-4880.
15–16 Thin Air Stories #1 Seattle’s newest dance collective, Left Field Dance, presents its inaugural collection of work by Heather Budd, Aiko Kinoshita, Jodi Kuehner, and Julia Skloot. 8 p.m. Jem Studios, 206-324-2201.
15–17 ARC DanceSymmetry features a mix of dance styles and techniques, with choreography by Brady Hartley, Jason Ohlberg, and Julie Tobiason. Times vary. Shorecrest Performing Arts Center, 206-325-6500.
20 An Evening with Kent Stowell and Francia Russell A moderated discussion with the outgoing directors of Pacific Northwest Ballet on their careers, here and elsewhere. 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 206-652-4255.
20–23 Lone Twin In the past, this pair of performance artists have “climbed” Mount Everest in a gallery and made clouds with their own body heat. They’ll be riding collapsible bicycles in Seattle, and who knows what else. 8 p.m. On the Boards, 206-217-9888.
23 Bebe Miller On stage Bebe Miller has always been a ferocious performer, and she brings that intensity to town for a workshop and showing. 2:30 p.m. Velocity MainSpace Theater, 206-325-8773.
25–26 Keeping the Faith A showing of work from Pat Graney’s “Prison Project” for incarcerated women. Must have security clearance to attend. 7 p.m. Washington Corrections Center for Women, 206-329-3705.
27–31 Bolshoi Ballet The historic Russian company brings one of its oldest works, Don Quixote, and its newest, a revisioning of Romeo and Juliet. Times vary. Paramount Theatre, 206-292-ARTS.
30–31 Dia de Los Muertos La Casa de Artes presents a traditional Day of the Dead celebration, including modern and folkloric dance, as part of Seattle Center’s Festal series. Noon. Center House, Seattle Center, 206-684-7200.
31 Conversations with PNB Francia Russell talks “All About Mr. B,” in conjunction with Pacific Northwest Ballet’s all-Balanchine program. 2 p.m. Elliot Bay Book Company, 206-441-3591.
NOVEMBER
4–14 Pacific Northwest Ballet The company dances a trio of works by George Balanchine (The Four Temperaments, Prodigal Son, and Symphony in C) in honor of his centennial. Times vary. McCaw Hall, 206-292-ARTS.
5–7 Lingo dancetheater Selections from Relatively Real, a new work by director KT Niehoff, to be premiered this spring at On the Boards. 8 p.m. Velocity MainSpace Theater, 206-329-6999.
6 Spectrum Dance Theater New work by director Donald Byrd, including the premiere of his Sleeping Beauty Workbook. 8 p.m. Moore Theatre, 206-292-ARTS.
9 A Portrait of PNB The next in the series of farewell talks by directors Kent Stowell and Francia Russell, on the challenges of creating and curating a repertory. 7:30 p.m. Pacific Northwest Ballet Scene Shop, 206- 441-9411.
11–13 David Gordon One of the icons of postmodern dance takes on Ionesco and wins with a new production of The Chairs. 8 p.m. On the Boards, 206-217-9888.
11–13 Baroque Extravaganza Anna Mansbridge and Seattle Early Dance join the Gallery Baroque Players for an evening of “visual and musical spectacle.” Nov. 11: 8 p.m. Town Hall, 206-726-6088. Nov. 13: 8 p.m. Kirkland Performance Center, 425- 893-9900.
12 Carmona Flamenco An evening of music and dance from gypsy Spain. 8 p.m. Kirkland Performance Center, 425-893-9900.
13 Gajamukha Ensemble The story of Ganesh, the elephant-headed god, told in music and dance from the Indian subcontintent. 8 p.m. Meany Theater, 206-543-4880.
19 Chinese Performing Artists of America Alumni and immigrants from leading Chinese dance companies in a whirlwind look at 5,000 years of dancing. 7:30 p.m. Auburn Performing Arts Center, 253-931-3043.
19–20 Cornish Dance Theater Some of the best dancers in town have come from this program—come see the newest crop. Times vary. Broadway Performance Hall, 206-325-6500.
19–21 You Can Always Go Swimming and Other Stories New choreography by recent arrivals Ricki Mason and Bianca Cabrera, doing business as LAUNCH. 8 p.m. Velocity MainSpace Theater, 206-328-0135.
20 Paul Taylor Dance Company A new work by the renowned choreographer, co-commissioned by Meany Hall, honoring 350 years of Jewish life in America. 8 p.m. Meany Theater, 206-543-4880.
20 Deborah Hay A “Performative Lecture” by one of the most idiosyncratic founders of postmodern dance. 8 p.m. On the Boards, 206-217-9888.
DECEMBER
2–5 Choreographer Composer Collaborative Concert Graduate students in music and dance at the University of Washington put their combined heads together. Times vary. Meany Hall Studio Theater, 206-543-4880.
3 BetterBiscuit Dance A preview of The Onion Twins, a modern dance opera by Alex Martin with Rebecca Brown and Michael Katell. 8 p.m. Richard Hugo House, 206-355-8425.
4–5 Under Construction If they build it, we should come—new work sponsored by Velocity Dance. 8 p.m. Velocity MainSpace Theater, 206-325-6500.
MUSEUMS
SEPTEMBER
Now Open EmMett Gowin & Santiago Calatrava Nearly abstract, aerial photos of the human-modified landscape (including the Hanford site) by Emmet Gowin, plus photographs and sketches by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava. Henry Art Gallery, 206-543-2280.
4 Howard Kottler Kitschy and witty commemorative dinner plates by the late UW professor and ceramics maven. Tacoma Art Museum, 253-272-4258.
24 Paul Morgan Gustin Puget Sound landscapes by one of the first fine artists to emerge from the backwoods of the early Northwest. Frye Art Museum, 206-622-9250.
OCTOBER
23 Elizabeth Tapper Print Collaboration Skagit Valley printer Elizabeth Tapper is known for her innovative and impeccable approach to printmaking, and this exhibit showcases collaborations with Susan Bennerstrom, Fay Jones, and Michael Spafford. Museum of Northwest Art, 360-466-4446.
NOVEMBER
4 Henk Pander The Dutch-born painter who currently resides in Portland has a fascination with cheery 21st-century subjects like disease, terrorism, and war—and it’s all executed with the virtuoso theatricality of 17th-century Dutch masters. Frye Art Museum, 206-622-9250.
4 The Work of the Work An ambitious show designed to investigate how art translates truly meaningful experiences from artist to viewer. The international potpourri will include work by Seattle video artist Gary Hill and Montana minimalist painter Anne Appleby, as well as Hannah Villiger, Candice Breitz, Steve McQueen, Kim Sooja, Catherine Yass, and Olafur Eliasson. Henry Art Gallery, 206-543-2280.
26 The Burgess Shale British Columbia’s Burgess Shale formation is the Rosetta stone of paleobiology—the source of fossils of more than 100 species dating back 500 million years. This touring exhibit offers a chance to get intimate with trilobites and other ancient critters. Burke Museum, 206-543-5590.
26 Journeys in Landscape Screens and hanging scrolls from Japanese landscape painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which show a range of influences, from Shinto belief to Western impressionism. Seattle Art Museum, 206-654-3100.
DECEMBER
4 Alex Lieber The German-born sculptor gets his first major show in the Pacific Northwest. Lieber’s work takes models of domestic space (rooms, chairs, furnishings), turns them inside out, and then suspends them from the ceiling in striking and dynamic compositions. Henry Art Gallery, 206-543-2280.
GALLERIES
SEPTEMBER
2 Richard Hutter Hutter’s abstract paintings and collages have a tightly balanced composition and employ bold motifs in layer upon layer of musiclike forms. Lisa Harris, 206-443-3315.
2 Carlee Fernandez & Keith Yurdana Platform Gallery, a new artist-owned art space in the Tashiro Kaplan complex, celebrates its debut with two artists obsessed with fusing human and natural worlds: Keith Yurdana offers disturbing drawings and sculptures of human-animal metamorphosis, and Carlee Fernandez’s creepy taxidermy grafts things like grapes and strawberries onto hapless dead birds and rodents. Platform, 206-679-2099.
2 Shaun O’Dell Known for his strange, symbolic paintings populated with historic figures, snippets of landscape, and hieroglyphs, this new selection of drawings indirectly addresses the westward expansion of America. James Harris, 206-903-6220.
9 Aperture at 50 A multigallery show celebrating 50 years of Aperture, the magazine/book publisher that helped make Ansel Adams, Diane Arbus, Cindy Sherman, and Sally Mann household names. Photographic Center Northwest, Benham Gallery, G. Gibson Gallery, 206-720-7222.
9 Ray Caesar It’s not often that a work of art is so creepy it gives you the chills, but for me, Ray Caesar’s Gothic paintings of sadistic-looking children does it every time. Roq La Rue, 206-374-8977.
17 F**k Bush A group show committed to American regime change and featuring works by Brian McGuffey, Leif Holland, and Body as Billboard. Square Room, 206-267-7120.
17 Chris Metze Truly innovative abstract paintings combining the whimsy of Klee with the disjointed formalism of contemporary graphic design. Ballard/Fetherston, 206-322-9440.
23 Cornish 2-D Instructors This group show at SAM Rental/Sales will include work by Cornish College instructors Patrick LoCicero, Barbara Noah, and others. SAM Rental/Sales Gallery, 206-343-1101.
30 Mary Peck Elegant photographs of the Olympic Peninsula by a local artist. National Parks Conservation Association, 206-903-1444.
OCTOBER
7 Buddy Bunting “Scablands” is this emerging artist’s document of a road trip to Eastern Washington’s most photogenic prisons. Gallery 4 Culture, 206-296-7580.
7 Leo Kenney A retrospective of the late Northwest painter whose favored motif was the psychedelic mandala and whose muse of choice was mescaline. Woodside Braseth, 206-622-7243.
7 Instinct Curated by local artist Dylan Neuwirth, this interdisciplinary exhibition of film and visual art (including Scotch tape sculptures) explores the subliminal knack that drives creativity. Consolidated Works, 206-860-5245.
8 Robert Marx New paintings and sculpture by this figurative painter whose expressionist images carry on the activist-artist tradition of the late Leon Golub. Davidson, 206-624-7684.
8 Inaugural Exhibition Winston Wächter moves a few blocks to a larger space and celebrates with a group show of gallery favorites, including Victoria Adams’ existential landscapes, Bo Bartlett’s middle-America realism, and Hiro Yokose’s spiritual mindscapes. Winston Wächter, 206-652-5855.
9 Amanda Kindregan Woodblock prints and paintings from a young artist who spans the divide between Pacific Northwest logger nostalgia and girly frills. Bluebottle, 206-325-1592.
14 Jay Backstrand Portland artist Jay Backstrand hasn’t had a solo show in Seattle since the 1980s, and this exhibit promises large-scale paintings chock-full of Eastern religion and pop culture. Bryan Ohno, 206-667-9572.
14 Darren Waterston Waterston’s organically fluid, stainlike abstractions are vaguely mystical, yet have enough down-to-earth grittiness to keep them from being sentimental. Greg Kucera, 206-624-0770.
14 Jeffry Mitchell I’ll be the first to admit I don’t have a clue what’s up with Jeffry Mitchell’s syrupy-sweet paintings of kittens, flowers, and other paint-by- number favorites. They’re either really ironic or he must really like kittens. James Harris, 206-903-6220.
14 Mona Kuhn & Roger van Dongen Photographs by Kuhn—a creator of sexy, ambiguous nude images—and van Dongen, a master of crisply elegant flower photos. G. Gibson, 206-587-4033.
NOVEMBER
4 Bill Miller Washington, D.C., artist Bill Miller creates collages of Americana and understated landscapes using bits of scrap vinyl and linoleum. Garde Rail, 206-621-1055.
4 Chad States This Seattle-based photographer is known for his ironic, staged tableaux of angst-ridden hipsters pondering the emptiness of their feeble existence. Gallery 4 Culture, 206-296-7580.
12 The Pin-Up Show A tribute to the alluring genre of girly pinup posters, featuring sexy stuff by Kirsten Easthope, Jason Nelson, and Lynne Naylor. Roq La Rue, 206-374-8977.
18 Dion Zwirner & John Grade Two artists whose abstraction is deeply informed by observations of the natural world: Seattle-based artist Zwirner’s richly colored canvases are inspired by landscape, and John Grade’s mixed-media sculptures take cues from microscopic biological patterns. Davidson, 206-624-7684.
DECEMBER
1 Jennifer Harrison Harrison is obsessed with idealized cityscapes—each work, heaped thick with paint, is a little geometric study in repetitive urban forms. Garde Rail, 206-621-1055.
1 Marc Dombrosky & Cynthia Lin This show attempts to elevate the banal to the level of art: Dombrosky frames hand-scribbled notes found on the street, while Lin paints pictures of . . . dust? Now that I have to see. Solomon Fine Art, 206-297-1400.
2 Thom Heileson A solo show by a local artist whose photo and video collages are a mysterious mix of nature, crumbling industry, and modern technology. Gallery 4 Culture, 206-296-7580.
2 Lynne Woods Turner & Susan Skilling Minimalism requires a single-minded and rigorous approach, and two artists coming to Greg Kucera Gallery fit that bill: Lynne Woods, whose works on paper have a ghostly intensity, and Susan Skilling, whose understated, spiritual forms recall the work of Morris Graves. Greg Kucera, 206-624-0770.
2 Mike Leavitt & Joe Newton More famous-artist action figures from Leavitt and creepy-cute paintings of miserable children by Joe Newton. Roq La Rue, 206-374-8977.
LECTURES & EVENTS
OCTOBER
10 Lorna Simpson In her video and photo-based art, Simpson takes the obsessive cataloging tendencies of phrenology and turns them inside out, creating documents of the African-American body in fascinating detail. 7 p.m. Seattle Art Museum, 206-654-3100.
NOVEMBER
8 Santiago Calatrava One of the world’s hottest architects, Calatrava designs grand, swooping organic forms, and specializes in huge civic projects, including the Athens Olympic stadium. 7 p.m. Henry Art Gallery, 206-543-2280.
CLASSICAL MUSIC
SEPTEMBER
17 Northwest Sinfonietta Christophe Chagnard leads this bold and energetic group in music by Tchaikovsky and Beethoven. 8 p.m. Town Hall, 253-284-9400.
17–25 Shock Exchange This London bass/sax duo has a six-night residency with local improvisers. 8 p.m. Polestar Music Gallery, 206-329-4224.
18–19 Northwest Chamber Orchestra A typically intriguing program from conductor Ralf Gothoni: Vivaldi, Penderecki, Shchedrin. 8 p.m. Benaroya Recital Hall, 206-343-0445.
23–25 Seattle Symphony Elgar, Ives, Lutoslawski, Wagner. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall, 206-215-4747.
24 Seattle Composers Salon A bimonthly new-music open-mike night. 8 p.m. Soundbridge, Benaroya Hall, 206-548-0981.
25 Los Angeles Guitar Quartet Sponsored by the Seattle Classic Guitar society. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Recital Hall, 206-297-8788.
30 Marc-André Hamelin Beethoven’s transcendent last three piano sonatas. 8 p.m. Meany Hall, 206-543-4880.
30–Oct. 2 Seattle Symphony Barber, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Strauss. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall, 206-215-4747.
30–Oct. 17 Polestar Music Gallery Solo performers all month, on everything from Theremin to bassoon. 8 p.m. 206-329-4224.
OCTOBER
3 Seattle Symphony With special guest Itzhak Perlman. 4 p.m. Benaroya Hall, 206-215-4747.
5 Vermeer String Quartet Music by Czerny, Mendelssohn, and Schubert. 8 p.m. Meany Hall, 206-543-4880.
9 Fretwork Viol consort in concert with soprano Emma Kirkby. Sponsored by the Early Music Guild. 8 p.m. Town Hall, 206-325-7066.
9–10 The Esoterics French chansons for an a cappella chorus. 8 p.m. St. Joseph’s Church, 206-215-4747.
10 Seattle Chamber Players A celebration of their 15th anniversary. 8 p.m. Benaroya Recital Hall, 206-286-5052.
11 Daniel Barenboim This pianist appears as part of the Seattle Symphony’s Distinguished Artists Series. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall, 206-215-4747.
12 Northwest Chamber Orchestra One night only with legendary pianist Leon Fleisher. 8 p.m. Benaroya Hall, 206-343-0445.
16 Tudor Choir Music of medieval England, and contemporary works inspired by them. 8 p.m. St. Mark’s Cathedral, 206-323-9415.
16–19 Seattle Symphony The premiere of Paul Schoenfield’s Sinfonietta. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall, 206-215-4747.
16–31 Seattle Opera Rigoletto, or the Baritone’s Revenge: Verdi makes the tenor the villain in this tragedy of betrayal and paternal love. 7:30 p.m. McCaw Hall, 206-389-7676.
17 Philharmonia Northwest Bob Silverman joins Roupen Shakarian’s fine group for Ravel’s fizzy Piano Concerto. 2:30 p.m. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 206-675-9727.
17 Seattle Philharmonic “Journeys Through Music” includes works by Berlioz, Gershwin, and Rossini. 3 p.m. Meany Hall, 206-528-6878.
17 Onyx Chamber Players This piano trio debuts with an all-Beethoven afternoon. 4 p.m. Town Hall.
19 Melia Watras This violist is in recital with pianist Craig Sheppard. 7:30 p.m. Meany Hall, 206-543-4880.
21 Seattle Symphony With special guest Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall, 206-215-4747.
22 Lake Union Civic Orchestra Celebrating their 10th season with Brahms and Elgar. 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 206-343-5826.
22 Mark Salman The fourth of his eight-concert series dedicated to Liszt’s piano music. 7:30 p.m. University Christian Church, 206-522-0169.
23 Seattle Choral Company An all-Handel concert. 2 p.m. St. Mark’s Cathedral, 206-363-1100.
23 Opus 7 Choral music by New Zealand composers. 8 p.m. St. James Cathedral, 206-782-2899.
23–24 Bellevue Philharmonic Fusao Kajima opens the season with “The Heroic Beethoven.” 7:30 p.m. Meydenbauer Center, 206-325-6500.
23–24 Seattle Baroque Suites and concertos from England, France, Germany, and Italy. 8 p.m. Benaroya Recital Hall, 206-322-3118.
30 Joe Hill Wayne Horvitz’s song cycle/theater piece on the life of the legendary union organizer. 8 p.m. Meany Hall, 206-543-4880.
31 Seattle Youth Symphony A Halloween program with Danse Macabre and other spooky faves. 3 p.m. Benaroya Hall, 206-362-2300.
NOVEMBER
1 Hilary Hahn The violinist appears as part of the Seattle Symphony’s Distinguished Artists Series. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall, 206-215-4747.
4–6 Seattle Symphony Ravel, Saint-Saëns, Satie. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall, 206-215-4747.
7 Orchestra Seattle/Seattle Chamber Singers George Shangrow conducts Bach cantatas. 3 p.m. Town Hall, 206-682-5208.
7 Bacchus Yet another piano trio debuts with music by Messiaen and Milhaud. 5 p.m. Town Hall.
8 Music of Remembrance Paul Schoenfield’s Camp Songs, and other works from, or relating to, the Holocaust. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Recital Hall, 206-365-7770.
8 UW Contemporary Group American music, from extremely recent to slightly less recent. 7:30 p.m. Meany Hall, 206-543-4880.
9 Moscow Virtuosi Part of the Seattle Symphony’s Visiting Orchestras Series. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall, 206-215-4747.
11 Ivo Pogorelich The pianist is another in the Seattle Symphony’s Distinguished Artists Series. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall, 206-215-4747.
11 Gallery Concerts Baroque chamber music and dance. 8 p.m. Town Hall, 206-726-6088.
11–14 Seattle Symphony Beethoven, Brahms, Goldmark. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall, 206-215-4747.
12 Seattle Chamber Players The premiere of Janice Giteck’s film score Ishi. 8 p.m. Benaroya Recital Hall, 206-286-5052.
12 English Concert String ensemble led by Andrew Manze. Sponsored by the Early Music Guild. 8 p.m. Town Hall, 206-325-7066.
13 Cappella Romana/Tudor Choir The U.S. premiere of Christos Hatzis’ Everlasting Light. 8 p.m. St. Mark’s Cathedral, 206-323-9415.
16 Quake Contemporary chamber music by Higdon, Satie, and Ung. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Recital Hall, 253-368-7091.
16 Lang Lang This powerhouse pianist plays Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Liszt. 8 p.m. Meany Hall, 206-543-4880.
18–21 Seattle Symphony Bruckner, Mozart, Rachmaninoff. 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall, 206-215-4747.
20 Puget Sound Symphony The kickoff of their sixth season. 8 p.m. Town Hall.
DECEMBER
4 Liber unUsualis Boston-based vocal trio. Sponsored by the Early Music Guild. 8 p.m. Town Hall, 206- 325-7066.
13 Schubertiad A convivial chamber-music evening with UW faculty. 7:30 p.m. Brechemin Auditorium, 206-685-8384.
